Sherbrooke, September 26, 2011 - Sherbrooke will host for the third time the basketball national championships. The 15U and 17U male representatives of the provinces will play in Sherbrooke in August 2012. The event will be in preparation for the Canada Games coming to Sherbrooke in 2013.

The majority of volunteers who were involved in the national championship in 2006 and 2007 answered the call from Mr. Martin Cliche to act again as event coordinator. It's a good crew that will lead and which will consist of people from different institutions such as Sherbrooke's: Bishop's University, Sherbrooke University, Cégep de Sherbrooke, École secondaire du Triolet, the Séminaire de Sherbrooke, the Sacred Heart College Network and the Quebec Student Sports Townships Eastern Townships.

The organizing committee is fortunate to have as president, Jean-Pierre Cuerrier, a figure in the Sherbrooke community, basketball coach and former player with the Vert & Or Sherbrooke University, a professor at that institution and author of several books teaching approaches focusing on basketball.

"Sherbrooke hosted the 2006 and 2007 men's and women's basketball National Championships. I was involved in various capacities with the organization of these Championships. These events were successful and were finalists at the Gala Sports Québec and first prize in 2006 and 2007 Sports Gala de l'Estrie," said Jean-Pierre Cuerrier.

"I want to continue my involvement in the sector of the sport in my community and, as was the case in 2006 and 2007, allow the people of Sherbrooke and Eastern Townships to attend a high level competition," says Cuerrier.

As president of the local organizing committee for the men's national championship in 2012, Mr. Cuerrier has the opportunity and the task of leading a group of people passionate for the sport, experienced through their roles at the previous championships, and having special qualities that complement, and that will be utilized for the success of this event.

Over 300 participants from the provinces and territories are expected. These youth are often accompanied by family members. Hosting this event will provide an important economic asset for Sherbrooke and area. In addition, it will be the ideal opportunity to promote it in anticipation of the Summer Games of Canada - Sherbrooke 2013.

"Indeed, besides pictures of our city and our province that will be prominently displayed throughout the country, the men's 15U and 17U national championship is a unique opportunity to serve as a test event in the preparation of the Canada Summer Games - Sherbrooke 2013," says Francois Salvail director of sports programming for the Canada Summer Games - Sherbrooke 2013.

The organizers of this national championship are confident they will meet the expectations of the organizations of Canada Basketball and the Canada Summer Games - Sherbrooke 2013.

The Sherbrooke community is invited to attend the Men's Basketball National Championship 2012 and to see the rising talent in the sport of basketball, or to act as volunteers in the organization of this championship.

Finally, Mr. Eddie Pomykala, another leading figure of basketball Sherbrooke on the English side, accepted the honorary presidency of the championship.

"I accepted to be honorary President because I really believe in the legacy that Yvon Lamarche established in Estrie for basketball. I believe in the people that are on the committee and I think it is wonderful to get back to basketball after retiring from coaching in 2008. I miss the people who are involved in basketball. Hosting the 2007 Championship at Bishop’s University and serving as president of the organizing committee then was a fantastic experience. I really enjoyed being part of that team and the success we had. We showed that we could host a great event and a few years later we are getting together to once again give the region and the country a wonderful basketball event in Sherbrooke."